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Ultimate Gmo Guide PDF
Ultimate Gmo Guide PDF
Introduction ..……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 23
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The Ultimate Guide to GMOs
Open Your Eyes to the Truth About GMOs
If you’re a very stringent shopper, or if you are very
careful about choosing the types of food you feed to
your family, then you’ve probably come across the
term “GMO” – genetically modified organisms.
Chances are you’ve seen labels of foods with the
caption “GMO-Free” or “No GMOs.” Or you might
have seen news reports about GMO labeling
initiatives in different states around the country.
In a nutshell, GMOs are a product of genetic engineering, meaning their genetic makeup has been altered
to induce a variety of “unique” traits to crops, such as making them drought-resistant or giving them
“more nutrients.” Currently, up to 85 percent of U.S. corn, 91 percent of soybeans, and 88 percent of
cotton are genetically modified. It is also estimated that at least 80 percent of processed foods now
contain genetically engineered ingredients.
GMO proponents claim that genetic engineering is “safe and beneficial,” and that it advances the
agricultural industry. They also say that GMOs help ensure the global food supply and sustainability.
For years, I've stated the belief that GMOs pose one of the greatest threats to life on the planet. Genetic
engineering is NOT the safe and beneficial technology that it is touted to be.
I would like to share with you the real story behind genetic engineering, which is why I created this e-
book, The Ultimate Guide to GMOs. Here, you will:
• Learn the history of GMOs and how the practice of genetic engineering started
• Discover which crops and “supermarket fares” are commonly genetically engineered today
• The myths and truths about GMOs – and its potentially damaging effects on the economy, the
environment, and your health
• The importance of GMO labeling – and why big biotech companies are strongly opposing it
I believe this is your best resource if you want to know more about GMOs. If you truly value your and your
family’s health, I suggest you read this now – it will help educate you on the reality that is genetic
engineering and why you should be wary of GMOs at all times.
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Chapter I:
The biggest use of GMO technology has been on large-scale agricultural crops. In an effort to prevent and
control pests, crops are genetically engineered to either:
Corn rootworm is one of the most devastating pests to corn crops, and it has historically been
managed in conventional farming by crop rotation and the use of insecticides applied to the soil.
With Bt corn, the use of such insecticides was supposed to be curbed. But 10 years later, to
everyone’s dismay, the pests are already developing resistance to the GM corn and other
serious consequences are being uncovered.
2. Be herbicide- and/or pesticide-resistant – About 85 percent of all GMO plants are herbicide-
tolerant or genetically engineered to withstand direct application of glyphosate, the active
ingredient in Monsanto’s potent herbicide Roundup. These are the so-called Roundup Ready
crops.
Because of the massive production of GMO crops in developing countries, the use of glyphosate,
touted as the world’s most-used herbicide, has continuously risen throughout the years.
According to the US Geological Survey Office (USGS) more than 88,000 tons of glyphosate were
used in the United States alone in 2007, up from 11,000 tons in 1992. 2
The biotech industry also claims that GMO crops can be engineered for disease resistance, drought
tolerance, nutrient improvement, and yield increase. Unfortunately, there’s still no evidence to back up
these claims or even the very safety of GMO crops.
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What is clearly established, though, is that after being heavily doused with toxic chemical herbicides
and/or pesticides, GMO crops become less nutrient-dense compared to their organic, non-GMO
counterparts, and in addition to having alarming amounts of potentially health-damaging pesticide
residues, also come with novel allergenic proteins.
Dr. Stephanie Seneff, a senior research scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who has
done extensive studies on this topic, believes glyphosate is one of the key culprits in the development of
multiple chronic diseases and conditions that have become prevalent in Westernized societies, including:
All living organisms have natural barriers to shield themselves against the introduction of DNA from an
entirely different species, which is why genetic engineers come up with various novel ways to make this
possible, such as: 4
• Using viruses or bacteria to "infect" animal or plant cells with the new DNA
• Coating DNA onto tiny metal pellets, and firing it with a special gun into the cells
• Injecting the new DNA into fertilized eggs with a very fine needle
• Using electric shocks to create holes in the membrane covering sperm, and then forcing the new
DNA into the sperm through these holes
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Despite the countless safety guarantees we hear from GMO proponents, it’s important to note that this
technology is still at its rudimentary stages. Mounting studies have ceaselessly shown that it’s impossible
to insert a foreign gene into an organism accurately without causing any harm or disruption in the finely
controlled network of DNA inside it. A single alteration at the DNA level can lead to multiple mutations
within the organism. And these mutations can alter the functioning of the natural genes of the plant in
unpredictable and potentially harmful ways. 5, 6
Genetic engineering goes a long way back in history, dating as far back as the times of Charles Darwin
and Gregor Mendel when gene modification and selective breeding were only becoming known to man.
To better understand how GMOs specifically got into our food supply, here’s a comprehensive GMO
timeline: 7,8
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• 1988 First Transgenic Plant Producing a Pharmaceutical
The transgenic maize (corn) is produced.
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cotton crops in the southern United States. In less than a decade, the bugs have adapted to the
genetically engineered toxin produced by the modified plants.
2. BASF is the North American subsidiary of the world’s largest chemical company, BASF SE,
based in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF used its massive influence in 2008 in order to run GM
crop trials, featuring blight-resistant potatoes, in the UK despite public protest. 11
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3. Bayer is a global holding company for a
number of pharmaceutical,
biotechnology, agrochemicals,
healthcare, plastics, and other materials
subsidiaries. Bayer has ties to the
American Legislative Exchange Council
(ALEC), a corporate bill mill, and has
been on its private enterprise board. 12
4. DuPont is originally known to be the main supplier of gun powder for the US during World
War II, and rose to becoming the largest seed company and producer of hybrid seeds used
in production of GE corn and soy in 1999. Like Monsanto, DuPont is also infamous for its
revolving doors within the government. 14
5. Dow Chemical Co. won US approval in 2014 for its Enlist Duo weed killer, a combination of
the herbicides 2,4-D and glyphosate, clearing the way for sales of corn and soybeans
genetically engineered to tolerate the herbicide. The said approval will increase use of 2,4-D
by two- to sevenfold, reaching as much as 176 million pounds in 2020, the Center for Food
Safety said in an e-mailed statement, citing U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates. 15
6. Syngenta faced over 50 lawsuits by US farmers in 2014 after traits of its GM corn seed Agrisure
Viptera were found in US shipments to China, which the latter neither tested nor approved
for import. Between February and October 2014, China rejected over 130 million bushels of
US corn, contributing to an 85 percent drop in US corn exports. The loss of Chinese corn sales
depressed the US market and drove down domestic corn prices, according to a number of the
lawsuits. 16
With all their big guns combined, these biotech giants have the fate and future of farming in their own
hands. Their historically unparalleled power over world agriculture enables them to control the
agricultural research agenda; dictate trade agreements and agricultural policies; position their
technologies as the “science-based” solution to increase crop yields, “feed the hungry,” and “save the
planet;” escape democratic and regulatory controls, and subvert competitive markets.17
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Note: Genetic Engineering Is NOT an Extension of Natural Plant Propagation
The industry has led us to believe that genetic engineering is a mere
extension of the natural breeding process. But nothing could be
further from the truth.
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Chapter II:
Currently, three major cash crops make up the bulk of the GMO acreage in the United States, namely corn,
cotton, and soybeans. In fact, US farmers planted 169 million acres of these GMO crops in 2013 alone,
about half of the total land used in growing crops. They planted herbicide-tolerant varieties, which
accounted for 93 percent of soybean acreage, 85 percent of corn acreage, and 82 percent of cotton
acreage. 19
Here are other registered genetically modified crops to watch out for: 20
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Be a savvy reader of food labels and be sure to steer clear from food ingredients derived from these GMO
crops, including:
• Corn flour, corn gluten, corn masa, maize, corn starch, corn syrup, corn meal, and high-fructose
corn syrup (HFCS)
• Soy flour, soy lecithin, soy protein, soy isolate, and soy isoflavone
• Processed vegetable oils like canola oil, rapeseed oil, and cottonseed oil
When shopping, you should also make it a habit to look for products with the “Non-GMO Project Verified”
seal, which indicates that it has gone through Non-GMO Project’s verification process. The Non-GMO
Project is a non-profit organization that does third-party verification and labeling for non-GMO food and
products.
It is presently banned in more than 30 countries around the world, except the United States, because of
its dangers to human health, which include an increased risk for colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer
by promoting conversion of normal tissue cells into cancerous ones. Despite decades of solid evidence
about the health hazards of rBGH, the FDA still maintains that it's safe for human consumption, snubbing
the glaring scientific data that says otherwise.
In 1999, the United Nations Safety Agency decided unanimously not to endorse or set safety standards
for rBGH milk, which successfully led to an international ban on US milk.
To protect you and your family from the possible health consequences of this toxic chemical, look for
“rBGH-FREE” labels when buying milk, or better yet, ask your trusted local organic farmer on how to avail
of fresh raw milk from his pasture-raised, hormone-free cows.
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Chapter III:
Microsoft founder Bill Gates is a staunch believer that GMOs are the
solution to worldwide hunger. Well, wouldn’t you be, too, if you’re a
major Monsanto shareholder with 500,000 shares?
Conventional plant breeding has delivered what the biotech industry’s novel technology has been
promising farmers – crops that are high-yielding, disease- and pest-resistant, tolerant of drought and
other climatic extremes, and nutritionally enhanced – at a fraction of the cost. 22
It’s also crucial to note that the main reason for hunger is not lack of food at all, but a lack of access to it.
In fact, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization believes we already produce more than enough food to
feed the world’s population and could produce enough with existing agricultural methods to feed 12
billion people. 23
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Sustainable organic farming systems, on the contrary, use only a mere 63 percent of the energy required
by chemical-based farming systems, in large part because they eliminate the energy required to produce
nitrogen fertilizer and pesticides. 25
Controlled field trials comparing GM and non-GM soy production suggested that 50 percent of the
decrease in yield is mainly due to the gene disruption caused by the genetic manipulation process. 26
Likewise, field tests of Bt maize hybrids showed that it took them longer to fully mature and produced up
to 12 percent lower yields than their non-GM counterparts. 27
In his paper “Failure to Yield,” Dr. Doug Gurian-Sherman, former biotech adviser to the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, DC,
concluded that:
“Commercial GE crops have made no inroads so far into raising the intrinsic or potential yield of
any crop. By contrast, traditional breeding has been spectacularly successful in this regard; it can
be solely credited with the intrinsic yield increases in the United States and other parts of the
world that characterized the agriculture of the twentieth century.” 28
• Crop years 2007 and 2008 accounted for 46 percent of the increase in herbicide use over thirteen
years across the three herbicide-tolerant crops. Herbicide use on GM herbicide-tolerant crops
rose 31.4 percent from 2007 to 2008.
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• Herbicide-tolerant maize, soy, and cotton caused farmers to spray 383 million more pounds (174
million kilograms) of herbicides than they would have done in the absence of herbicide-tolerant
seeds.
• Farmers applied 318 million more pounds of pesticides as a result of planting genetically
engineered seeds over the first 13 years of commercial use.
Benbrook later identified the spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds as the root cause of this immense
herbicide increase.
In the next chapter, you will discover more about glyphosate’s devastating effects to your health and the
environment.
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Chapter IV:
Pro-GMOs said that GE seeds were safe to grow but it is only now that we get to see the potential damage
that it may cause on our ecosystem.
Traditionally, farmers practiced polyculture, or the planting of different crops on a rotational basis,
because it sustained the nutritional needs of the community. But when Monsanto introduced genetically
modified seeds in mid-1990s, 30 a lot of farmers supported it. GE proponents promised high resistance to
pesticides and herbicides, especially glyphosate, without sustaining any damage, and increased yields in
crops.
This resulted in monoculture, which is the planting of just one variety of crops in a farmland. Most famers
practice this technique on GE corn, soybeans, wheat, and sometimes, rice.
Sadly, the promise of increased in yields was not met. In addition, “superweeds” 31 started infesting vast
farms in the U.S., resulting in a massive loss of crops amounting to one billion dollars – a huge loss for
farmers. The weeds have formed a resistance against the herbicides and pesticides, specifically
Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide.
What’s more, monoculture has led to staggering effects on our agriculture and environment:
• Farmers are forced to use more toxic and more harmful pesticides and herbicides against pests
and weeds, which in turn form resistance against these chemicals. This requires agribusiness
companies to produce more toxic pesticides, resulting in a never-ending cycle.
• It damages the soil through the depletion and reduction of the diversity of soil nutrients.
• It makes crops vulnerable to different parasitic species.
• Crops become highly dependent on chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and antibiotics.
• It destroys biodiversity and heavily relies on costly farm equipment and machinery, which require
maximum use of fossil fuels.
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Aside from farms, there have been reports about the immense loss of bees and other insects in the U.S.,
which may have resulted from the proliferation of GE crops.
One of the possible reasons is the use of insecticides known as neonicotinoids. This toxic chemical,
commonly used in most crops in the U.S., can be acquired by bees from the nectar and pollen of the crops,
as it’s sprayed to the seeds even before they are planted.
To make matters worse, horizontal gene transfer occurs between the insect and the plant. In a German
study conducted in 2000, 32 it showed that when the adult bees fed the younger ones with the pollen of
the GE crop, the same gut bacteria were found in the younger bees and the GE crop. During horizontal
gene transfer, the gene of one species is injected into a different species, far from its kind. This can lead
to unpredictable and unexpected results unlike when vertical gene transfer happens through asexual or
sexual reproduction.
There has also been a massive loss of monarch butterflies because of the increasing use of GMOs in many
farms. Before, milkweed, a plant that is the primary source of food of monarch caterpillars, is commonly
found in farms. Now these are replaced with GMO crops. Not only that, milkweed is also killed by the
glyphosate in the Roundup pesticide.
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GMOs Also Affect Conventional Crops
Farmers now choose to plant GE seeds, which limits the choices in our food supply. Biotech companies
produce GE soy and corn seeds, which make up most of our farmlands today.
Farmers prefer planting these kinds of crops because they are resistant to herbicides and pesticides,
especially to glyphosate, which is the main component of Roundup. The farmers are now forced to apply
Roundup in large quantities resulting in the reduction of all beneficial organisms in the soil.
Organic farming is being slowly phased out – a move that I strongly condemn. What we need the most
today are organic foods that are free of chemicals, which are necessary for us to live a healthy life. If GE
crops will continue to dominate the food cycle, it will surely have a negative impact on your health.
You are in danger of getting a lot of long-term health effects from consuming GE foods. A good example
is the Bt toxin produced by Bt corn. A study 33 showed that consuming Bt corn potentially causes gut
permeability or “leaky gut” that can cause a lot of health problems. When your gut becomes permeable,
everything that you eat travels directly to your blood, which can result in food allergies and food
intolerances. Children are more prone to the dangerous effects of leaky gut and dysbiosis.
What’s more, studies have showed that glyphosate found in GMOs can actually harm your gut health, and
may lead to many chronic diseases.
Monsanto has stated that Roundup is safe for humans and animals, but its active ingredient, glyphosate,
leaves traces of its residue on the food you eat. This is alarming, as your gut bacteria are a key component
of glyphosate’s mechanism of harm.
Glyphosate functions through the shikimate pathway, which enables it to kill weeds without damaging
the crop. Monsanto said that this sequence is absent in all animals. However, the shikimate pathway is
present in the human gut bacteria.
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In every cell in your body, there are 10 different kinds of microbes that make your body to respond to the
presence of glyphosate. The toxic chemical can disrupt the microbe’s function in your body and cause
trouble in your health. It can also disturb your gut bacteria’s shikimate pathway, which is a key player in
the production of essential amino acids.
A report published in Entropy 34 links glyphosate to the increasing cases of chronic diseases such as:
It strongly suggests how the glyphosate residue in our food is related to how these long-term ailments
have increased. The authors said that these health problems may have risen from the biological
disruptions caused by the glyphosate in your diet.
Before the fresh goods are made available to the market, they undergo a long process of cultivation. But
when GE seeds came, the way the crops are planted changed.
Monsanto promised that GE crops will bring more harvest to farmers, but it proved to be a false promise.
GE crops require more water for cultivation. It also increased pesticide use as the weeds formed resistance
against pesticides. It did not increase farmers’ yields – only their debts. They weren’t able to get back their
investment from buying those GE seeds. Plus, they weren’t allowed to save the patented GE seeds
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because Monsanto would sue them for patent infringement, which forces them to buy GE seeds every
year.
Monsanto has been suing farmers if they found GE plants are grown within their farm without the
company’s permission. The biotech company has claimed the right to own any plant bearing its seed, no
matter how it got there. At times, farmers cannot avoid having GE seeds growing out of their farms; either
those were blown away by air from a delivery truck or the pollen is carried by the wind.
This has become a major problem for small-scale farmers. Monsanto has filed over 140 lawsuits against
farmers and they have settled another 700. Most farmers would rather pay a fine than spend money over
a costly trial. Even worse, in 2014 the U.S. Supreme Court junked a law that was supposed to help the
farmers against this bullying from Monsanto; giving way for big biotech company to continue harassing
these small farmers.
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Chapter V:
One way to help eliminate GE crops and ensure that future generations can still eat organic foods is
through GMO labeling. More than 80 percent of processed foods today contain GE ingredients. However,
not all of them are labeled to identify that they contain GMOs.
GMO labeling critics say that it will be costly to the manufacturers and will rouse fear among the
consumers. But what is the truth behind this initiative and how will it affect American buyers?
The idea of GMO labeling is really simple: it will set GMO-containing foods apart from those that are purely
organic and made from natural products. I strongly advocate GMO labeling as it will give you the option
to choose the between the foods made from a laboratory and those that naturally came from Mother
Nature.
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Ideally, food producers must be truthful in labeling their products. If a salmon is injected with eel genes,
it is no longer a regular salmon, and such changes must be labeled accordingly. GMO labeling eliminates
fraud from occurring – it will help uphold consumers’ right to know the truth about the food they are
buying.
In countries such as Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, Russia, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia, 37
people are given the freedom and information to know the contents of their food which they consume,
and foods containing GE ingredients are labeled as such.
On the contrary, Americans are still trying their best to fight for GMO labeling in the country, with
Monsanto and other biotech companies strongly going against it. There have been ballot initiatives or
proposals to pass laws regarding the implementation of GMO labeling in numerous states in the U.S. There
are states who won through the cooperation of its people to label GMOs in their processed foods. And
there are some who lost the battle – but only by a narrow margin.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is the perfect example of this. GMA represents more
than 300 corporations such as Bayer, DuPont, Dow, Monsanto, General Mills, PepsiCo, and Coca Cola,
who are the main opponents of the GMO labeling campaign.
GMA member companies have spent more than $100 million to stop GMO labeling in more than 30
states. They also donated large sums of money that greatly helped in the defeat of GMO labeling ballot
initiatives, like the California Proposition 37 and Washington Initiative 522. 38
It shows that they are more than willing to spend so much money to save their companies even if your
health is at stake.
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I have named GMA as the “most evil company on the planet” because of its significant role in the
movement to stop GMO labeling. They are willing to do everything and anything to protect the interest
of their members. To prove this, they were caught in a money laundering scheme in 2013 during the I-522
GMO labeling campaign. They named the fund as Defense of Brand Strategic Account that aimed to
protect its members who donated money for their campaign against GMO labeling.
They were later sued by Attorney General Bob Ferguson for intentionally laundering money and breaching
the state campaign disclosure laws. This forced them to reveal their members who donated money.
But GMA did not let this pass by easily; they countersued proving that they are fighting to protect their
members’ identity.
Food companies state that all they have in mind is the effect of these initiatives on you. According to
them, it would be costly for the consumers if they will label the foods in accordance to their GMO
contents. 39
However, a study 40 was conducted that analyzed the economic impact of GMO labeling to consumers. It
revealed that it would only cost about 2.30 dollars for each person annually. That being said, their real
fear is that people might veer away from GMO labeled foods because of GMO’s potential dangers, and
the food companies would not be able to handle the profit loss that it could bring.
Despite the efforts of the GMA and its members to hoodwink the public into thinking that GMOs are
generally safe to consume and have the same benefits with organic foods, scientific reports and studies
have proven otherwise. It is evident that they are doing great measures just to hide the very truth from
you. Now is the time to make the wise decision: implement GMO labeling.
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The Truth About GMOs Is Out –
Now It’s Time for You to Do Your Part
For nearly two decades, Monsanto and other corporate agribusinesses have exercised near-dictatorial
control over US agriculture – dominating our food supply with genetically engineered crops that do
nothing for your health and the environment.
But the good news is that you can do something about it… and it starts with making the right choices.
Better yet, visit your local farm so you can see exactly how the food is grown. Ask the farmer or owner
how they produce their crops, take care of their animals, and ensure that their food is safe and of the
highest quality. By going directly to the source, not only are you able to support natural, sustainable
agriculture that ensures the future of our planet, but you’re also able to get amazingly healthy, locally
grown, organic food for less than you can find at your supermarket.
By doing this, you get the best of both worlds: optimally fresh food that is grown near you and sold with
minimal packaging and less carbon footprint, and is produced without chemicals, GE seeds, and other
potential threats to your health.
This is the best way to really put pressure on these GMA brands – by avoiding the products they market
to organic consumers. By doing this, you are letting Big Agriculture and Biotech Companies know that you
are refusing to put GMOs in your body.
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The good news is, there are ways to find out which products actually contain GMOs. One way of doing
this is by using the Non-GMO Shopping Guide created by the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT).
It offers a complete database of verified GMO-free products and sources. It’s the perfect shopping
companion if you truly want to make sure that you’re avoiding ALL GMO products.
Last but not the least, I also urge you to support any GMO labeling initiatives in your state. As I mentioned
before, labeling is the first step toward the elimination of GMOs in our food supply. By supporting efforts
to enact GMO labeling laws in our country, you are making your voice heard and helping put a stop to
genetic engineering – once and for all.
I hope that with the information you learned about GMOs, you can make smart choices that will not only
ensure the sustainability of our planet, but also your and your loved ones’ health.
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Sources and References
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